Agricultural apparatus for shaped beds

ABSTRACT

Agricultural apparatus for shaped beds having a rotatable mulcher assembly adapted to engage the top surface of the bed and to break up the top surface of the bed to form a relatively fine mulch on the top of the bed and having a housing which overlies the bed and encloses the upper extremities of the mulcher assembly, the housing having an opening to the rear and means for enclosing the opening so that all the clods on the top surface of the bed cannot exit from the housing and are broken up or pulverized by the mulching assembly.

Umted States Patent 1151 3,661,213

Taylor 1 May 9, 1972 54 AGRICULTURAL APPARATUS FOR 3,235,012 2/1966Johnson et a1 ..172/157 907,509 12/1908 Kramer 172/556 2,199,954 5/1940Kelsey..... ....172 54s x [72] lnventor: Clyde L. Taylor, 1545 SouthCh1now1th 2,754,744 7/1956 Ha" '2 x 3,029,879 4/1962 Wells ....172 112 x[22] Filed; Mar, 19, 1970 3,151,685 10/1964 Field ..l72/556 3,235,0122/1966 Johnson et a1 ..172/157 1211 APPL 19,544 3,316,865 5/1967Williams ..172/540 ux Related Us. Application Data 3,347,188 10/1967Rlchey ..172/1 1 2 X [63] Continuation of S61. N0. 716,577, Mar. 27,1968, FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS abandmed' 660,157 2/1964 Italy 52u.s.c1 ..172 72, 172/112,172 123, LOT/675 5/1954 Framel72/145,172/540,111/6,111/10 I 51 1 1111. C1 ..A0lb 33/02, A0 1 b 33/16f pu'frey [58] Field of Search ..111/6, 10; 172/78, 112, 122,

AttorneyFlehr, Hohbach, Test, Albntton & Herbert 172/123, 157

[56] References Cited [57] ABSTRACT Agricultural apparatus for shapedbeds having a rotatable UNITED STATES PATENTS mulcher assembly adaptedto engage the top surface of the 1,662,088 3/1928 Raussendorff ..172/112 bed and to break up the top surface of the bed to form a rela-2,644,386 7/1953 Sutton t 72/7 tively fine mulch on the top of the bedand having a housing 2,739,517 3/1956 Roberts 172/1 12 which overliesthe bed and encloses the upper extremities of 3,409,088 1 1/1968Lindbeck 61 1111 the mulcher assembly, the housing having an opening tothe 2,754,744 7/1956 H311 172/556 rear and means for enclosing theopening so that all the clods 3,029,879 4/1962 1 72/78 on the topsurface of the bed cannot exit from the housing and 3,151,685 10/1964Fleldw 1 72/556 are broken up or pulverized by the mulching assembly.3,316,865 5/1967 Williams. ..111/6 3,347,188 10/1967 Richey ..1 l l/l0 6Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMAY 91972 3.661213 sum 2 BF 2 1W1NTOR.

Clyde L. Taylor 312D Attorney AGRICULTURAL APPARATUS FOR SHAPED BEDSThis application is a streamlined continuation of application Ser. No.7l6,577 filed Mar. 27, 1968 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is disclosed in copending applicationSer. No. 408,572, filed Nov. 3, 1964, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,987 anagricultural apparatus for shaped beds which utilizes an incorporatorwhich engages the top surface of the bed which is utilized forincorporating additives into the bed and which also serves to break upthe top surface of the bed. However, it has been found that theseincorporators do not necessarily break up all the clods on the top ofthe bed so as to provide a relatively fine layer of soil at the top ofthe bed to serve as a mulch. There is, therefore, a need for a new andimproved agricultural apparatus which will perform this function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS The mulcher apparatus for shapedbeds consists of a framework which is adapted to be moved over theshaped beds. A shaft is rotatably mounted upon the framework and carriesat least one rotatable mulcher assembly. Means is mounted on theframework for positively driving the shaft and the mulcher assembliescarried thereby so that the mulcher assemblies engage the top surface ofthe bed and break up the top surface of the bed and break up any clodson the top of the bed. A housing is provided for each of the mulcherassemblies and overlies the mulcher assemblies and substantiallyencloses the portions of the mulcher assemblies disposed above the topof the bed. The housing is provided with a rear exit opening andgate-like means for closing the opening and serving to prevent clods andthe like on the top of the bed from exiting through the opening wherebythey are retained within the housing and urged into the mulcher assemblyso that the mulcher assembly breaks up all the clods and causes the toplayer of soil to be formed into a relatively fine mulch on top of thebed.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide anagricultural apparatus for shaped beds which makes it possible to breakup the top surface of the bed into relatively small particles so that arelatively fine mulch is formed on top of the bed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an agricultural apparatusof the above character in which the fineness of the mulch which isprovided on the top of the bed can be adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to provide an agricultural apparatusof the above character which has a mulching assembly for the top surfaceof the bed that works the entire width of the top surface ofthe bed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an agricultural apparatusof the above character in which the adjustments can be readily made.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing description in which the preferred embodiment is set forth indetail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of anagricultural apparatus for shaped beds incorporating the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the agricultural apparatus shown inFIG. 1 and particularly showing the incorporator or mulching assemblybeing utilized.

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged view of a portion of the agriculturalapparatus shown in FIG. 2 and particularly showing the incorporator ormulching assembly.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The agricultural apparatus forshaped beds consists of a framework 11 which in many respects is similarto the framework disclosed in application Ser. No. 408,572, filed Nov.3, 1964. A member 12 is pivotally mounted upon the framework 11 andextends transversely of the framework 11. Support assemblies 13 aremounted upon the member 12 and carry rubber-tired ground engaging wheels14. A hitch 16 is mounted on the framework 11 and is provided forconnecting the apparatus to a tractor which can be utilized for movingthe apparatus through the field. Means of a conventional type isprovided which includes a hydraulic cylinder 17 for causing pivotalmovement of the member 12 and for causing shifting of the wheels 14relative to the framework 11 to cause the framework to be raised andlowered. A plurality of tool bars 21, 22 and 23 are mounted upon theframework 11 in a manner similar to that described in Ser. No. 408,572,filed on Nov. 3, 1964.

The agricultural apparatus is particularly adapted for use in preparing,planting and treating agricultural land which is to be irrigated. Thus,as disclosed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 408,572, filed on Nov. 3,1964, it includes a plurality of spaced bed shapers 26 which are mountedupon the framework 11 and extend longitudinally of the framework. Thebed shapers 26 extend substantially the entire length of the framework11 and are secured to the tool bars 21 and 22. As can be particularlyseen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the forward extremities of the bed shapers areoutwardly flared whereas the remainder of the bed shaper has asubstantially uniform transverse cross-section extending the entirelength of the bed shaper.

Means is provided between the forward and rear extremities of the bedshaper for mulching the top surface of the bed being formed by the bedshaper. By mulching is meant that the top surface of the bed is tilledso that the soil or earth which forms the top surface of the bed isbroken up rather finely to provide a layer of mulch or top cover for thebed which is particularly suitable for planting operations and forretaining moisture within the soil. Such means consists of a mulching orincorporating assembly 31 provided for each of the bed shapers and beingmounted upon and spaced longitudinally of a shaft 32. The shaft 32 isrotatably mounted upon the framework 11 and extends transversely of theframework. A housing assembly 33 is provided for each of the mulching orincorporating assemblies 31. The shaft 32 is in the form of a bar whichis driven by a large sprocket 34 mounted thereon. The sprocket 34 isdriven by a chain 36. The chain is driven by a sprocket 37. The sprocket37 is mounted on a shaft 38 of a right angle gear unit 39. The gear unit39 is driven by a power take-off shaft 41 which is adapted to beconnected to the tractor which is to be utilized for pulling theagricultural apparatus.

The mulching or incorporating assemblies 31 consist of a pair ofsemi-circular plates 43 and 44 which are provided with hub-like portions43a and 44a, respectively. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the plates 43 and44 are arranged so that they extend in spaced vertical planes with thehub-like portions 43 and 44 being fastened together over the shaft 32 bybolts 46. A pair of tines or blades 47 are secured to each of the plates43 and 44. The tines or blades, as can be seen from FIG. 4, aresubstantially L-shaped with the shorter leg portion 47a of each of theblades serving as the major cutting or incorporating element of theblade. The tines or blades 47 are secured to the plates by bolts 48 atspaced points on the plate so that they extend from the plate at anglesapproximately with respect to each other. As can be seen particularlyfrom FIGS. 3 and 4, one of the blades is mounted on one side of theplate, whereas the other of the blades of the same plate is mounted onthe opposite side of the plate. It also can be seen that the shorter legportions of the blades 47 for each of the plates extend in oppositedirections. Thus, as viewed in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the fourblades which are provided on the two plates 43 and 44 are spaced 90apart with the ones being spaced 90 apart having their leg portions 47aextending in the same directions.

When the bed shapers 26 extend the entire length of the framework 11,the mulching and incorporating assemblies 31 are positioned intermediatethe ends of the bed shapers and extend through an opening 51 provided inthe top wall 52 of the bed shaper 26. As shown in FIG. 4, the shapersare also provided with vertical side walls 53 which are provided withdownwardly and outwardly extending inclined portions 530. As can be seenfrom FIG. 4, the side wall extensions 53a are provided with reinforcingmembers 56.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, the tines or blades 47 are arranged so thatthe tines or blades of a mulching assembly engage all lateral portionsof the top layer of the bed which is formed by the bed shapers 26because there are no dead spots between the tines or blades 47.

The housing 33 which is mounted over each of the mulching orincorporating assemblies 31 is substantially rectangular incross-section as shown in FIG. 4 and is provided with vertical spaced,parallel side walls 61 extending the length of the bed shaper 26 andwhich are secured to the side walls 53 of the bed shapers. The housingis also provided with a top wall 62 and a front wall 63. The front wall63 is dimensioned so as to provide an opening 64 which is normally abovethe top surface of the bed engaged by the bed shaper so that dirt andthe like will not collect in front of the front wall as the agriculturalapparatus is advanced in the field. The housing 33 is provided with arear opening 64 to the rear of the mulching or incorporating assembly31. This opening 64 is normally yieldably retained in a closed positionby a gate or door 66 which has a length which is substantially greaterthan the space from the upper part of the opening to the top of the bedbeing shaped by the bed shaper. The gate 66 is hinged to the top wall 62by a hinge 67 and has a length so that it is normally inclined outwardlyand downwardly to the rear when the apparatus is in use. Means isprovided for yieldably holding the gate or door 66 in a position so thatit closes the opening 64 and consists of a threaded rod 68 which has oneend mounted on a U-shaped member 69 pivotally connected by a pin 71 toan ear 72 provided on the lower extremity of the gate 66. The upperextremity of the rod 68 extends through a hole 73 provided in a member74 mounted on the framework 11. A pair of nuts 76 are mounted on the endof the rod adjacent the U-shaped member 69 and have one end of a spring77 engaging the same. The other end of the spring 77 engages theunderside of the member 74. The rod 68 is retained within the hole 73 bya pair of nuts 78 mounted on the upper side of the member 74.

Additional equipment is mounted on the framework 11 as, for example, aplurality of planter assemblies 81 of a conven tional type are mountedon the rear tool bar 23. As is well known to those skilled in the art,such planter assemblies include a toothed driving wheel 82 which isadapted to engage the top surface of the bed and which is provided fordriving the planter. Means is provided for compacting the earth over theseeds as soon as they have been planted by the planter assemblies andconsists of a plurality of wheels 86 which are spaced transversely ofthe framework 11 with one of the wheels being behind each of theplanters provided on the framework 11. The wheels 86 are rotatablymounted on a bar 87 which is pivotally mounted upon a member 88 securedto the tool bar 23. Means is provided for yieldably urging each of thewheels 86 into firm engagement with the surface of the bed and includesa threaded rod 91 which has one end secured to a U-shaped member 92pivotally connected by a pin 93 to the bar 87. The rod 91 extendsthrough a hole (not shown) in a member 94 secured to the framework 11. Aspring 96 is mounted on the rod and has one end engaging a stop nut 97on the rod 91 and has the other end engaging the member 94. Another nut98 is mounted on the other extremity of the rod for preventing the rodfrom dropping through the hole provided in the member 94.

Operation and use of the agricultural apparatus may now be brieflydescribed as follows. Let it be assumed that the agricultural apparatusis connected to a suitable self-propelled vehicle such as a wheel-typetractor which is capable of pulling the agricultural apparatus through afield and at the same time supplying motive power through the powertake-off drive shaft 41. As the unit is advanced through the field, thebed shapers 26 form the beds much in the same manner as described inapplication Ser. No. 408,572, filed Nov. 3, I964. As described therein,the beds have generally planar top surfaces and outwardly inclined sidewalls. During the time that the beds are being formed, the mulching orincorporating assemblies 31 are being positively driven through thepower take-off drive shaft 41 to cause rotation of the tines or blades47 into the top surface of the beds to progressively break up the topsurface of the bed as the agricultural apparatus is advanced. ln orderto ensure that the top surface of the bed is broken up into relativelyfine particles so as to provide a mulch-type cover for the top of thebed, the gate 66 is positioned to yieldably close the opening 6 providedin the housing 33 so as to prevent any large clods or the like fromescaping underneath the bottom of the gate 66. This is accomplished byadjusting the nuts 76 and 78 so that the desired amount of springpressure is applied to the bottom of the gate 66 to hold the gate in thedesired position. By yieldably holding the gate in this position, anylarge clods and the like which are on top of the bed are retained withinthe housing 33 and are progressively re-worked by the mulching orincorporating assemblies 31 until they are broken up into relativelyfine particles. By holding the gate 66 in this closed position, it hasbeen found that when the beds being planted have many clods, thatsubstantially the entire housing becomes filled with clods and the clodsare continuously recirculated within the housing by the rotation of themulching or incorporating assemblies until they are broken up andpulverized. Thus, it has been found that the housing can be readilyfilled with clods to levels such as shown in FIG. 3 and still operatevery satisfactorily. The clods cannot escape forwardly through theopening 64 because the agricultural apparatus is being continuouslyadvanced through the field by the tractor. The arrangement of the tinesor blades 46 on the mulching or incorporating assemblies is such thatall lateral areas within the housing are covered by the portions 470 sothat there is no dead space between the blades through which clods canescape.

It has been found that the agricultural apparatus is particularlyefficacious for the preparation of the upper surface of the beds forplanting because the soil which forms the bed is broken up into fineparticles through which the planter can readily travel and in which verysmall seeds as, for example, sugar beet seeds can be deposited andgrown. As soon as they have been deposited by the planter, the wheel 86travels over the top and compresses the finely divided soil over thebeet seed to provide an excellent bed for the growth of the seeds.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there has been provided a new andimproved agricultural apparatus for shaped beds which is particularlyuseful for the preparation of the beds for planting and other operationssuch as incorporation of herbicides. The degree of breaking up of thetop surface of the beds by the mulching or incorporating assemblies canbe regulated by adjusting the speed of travel of the mulching orincorporating assemblies and also primarily by the adjustment of therear gate to prevent any clods above a predetermined size from passingfrom the bed shapers. If it is desired to decrease the fineness to whichthe soil is being pulverized, it is merely necessary to loosen the nuts76 and 78 to decrease the compression forces applied by the spring 77.The apparatus is constructed in such a manner that the compressionforces applied by the spring 77 can be readily adjusted in the field. Inaddition, the teeth or tines are secured in such a manner that they alsocan be readily replaced when necessary.

lclaim:

1. In an agricultural apparatus for shaped beds formed in the ground ina field, a framework, means supporting the framework to permit movementof the framework through the field, bed shaping means carried by theframework and extending longitudinally of the framework, said bedshaping means including spaced parallel downwardly extending andoutwardly inclined side walls, a shaft rotatably mounted on theframework extending laterally of the framework, a mulcher assemblymounted on said shaft for engaging the top surface of the bed betweenthe side walls of the bed shaping means, means mounted on the frameworkfor rotating the shaft and the mulcher assembly carried thereby, ahousing mounted on said framework and on the bed shaping means betweenthe ends of the bed shaping means and substantially enclosing the upperextremity of the mulcher assembly, said housing having spaced parallelside walls extending downwardly and adjoining the side walls of the bedshaping means, said housing being provided with an opening to the rearextending upwardly from the bottom of the housing across the width ofthe housing, the portion of the housing defining the upper extremity ofthe opening being spaced a distance above the bed and the shaft, saidhousing including gate means, means pivotally mounting said gate meanson the housing for swinging movement to and from a closed position withrespect to said opening about a horizontal axis above said shaft, saidgate means having a width so that it extends across the width of theentire top surface of the bed and having a length such that its lowerextremity engages the top surface of the bed and is spaced a substantialdistance above the lower extremities of the side walls of the bedshaping means, and means carried by the framework and engaging the gatemeans for yieldably urging said gate means toward said closed positionto retain clods over a certain size in the housing until they are brokenup by the mulcher assembly to form soil of a size which can escape fromthe housing under said gate means.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 together with a bed shaper mounted on saidframework and extending forwardly of said housing and below saidhousing.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said mulching assemblies consist of apair of hub-like members removably secured to said shaft, and aplurality of tines mounted on said members, said tines having portionsextending laterally of the framework and being spaced so as to coverlaterally the surface of the bed over which the framework travels.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for holding said gate in aclosed position consists of spring means yieldably holding said gate ina closed position.

5. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said bed shapers are provided withextensions which extend to the rear of the mulching assembly.

6. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said members have substantiallysemi-circular portions spaced laterally from each other at diametralpositions in the shaft and wherein said tines are substantiallyL-shaped, two of said tines being mounted on each of said hub-likemembers and being spaced approximately apart.

1. In an agricultural apparatus for shaped beds formed in the ground ina field, a framework, means supporting the framework to permit movementof the framework through the field, bed shaping means carried by theframework and extending longitudinally of the framework, said bedshaping means including spaced parallel downwardly extending andoutwardly inclined side walls, a shaft rotatably mounted on theframework extending laterally of the framework, a mulcher assemblymounted on said shaft for engaging the top surface of the bed betweenthe side walls of the bed shaping means, means mounted on the frameworkfor rotating the shaft and the mulcher assembly carried thereby, ahousing mounted on said framework and on the bed shaping means betweenthe ends of the bed shaping means and substantially enclosing the upperextremity of the mulcher assembly, said housing having spaced parallelside walls extending downwardly and adjoining the side walls of the bedshaping means, said housing being provided with an opening to the rearextending upwardly from the bottom of the housing across the width ofthe housing, the portion of the housing defining the upper extremity ofthe opening being spaced a distance above the bed and the shaft, saidhousing including gate means, means pivotally mounting said gate meanson the housing for swinging movement to and from a closed position withrespect to said opening about a horizontal axis above said shaft, saidgate means having a width so that it extends across the width of theentire top surface of the bed and having a length such that its lowerextremity engages the top surface of the bed and is spaced a substantialdistance above the lower extremities of the side walls of the bedshaping means, and means carried by the framework and engaging the gatemeans for yieldably urging said gate means toward said closed posItionto retain clods over a certain size in the housing until they are brokenup by the mulcher assembly to form soil of a size which can escape fromthe housing under said gate means.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 togetherwith a bed shaper mounted on said framework and extending forwardly ofsaid housing and below said housing.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1 whereinsaid mulching assemblies consist of a pair of hub-like members removablysecured to said shaft, and a plurality of tines mounted on said members,said tines having portions extending laterally of the framework andbeing spaced so as to cover laterally the surface of the bed over whichthe framework travels.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means forholding said gate in a closed position consists of spring meansyieldably holding said gate in a closed position.
 5. Apparatus as inclaim 2 wherein said bed shapers are provided with extensions whichextend to the rear of the mulching assembly.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 3wherein said members have substantially semi-circular portions spacedlaterally from each other at diametral positions in the shaft andwherein said tines are substantially L-shaped, two of said tines beingmounted on each of said hub-like members and being spaced approximately90* apart.